Lancaster Catholic QB player of the year; Palko gets most votes for coach of year

 By Mike White | Friday, Dec. 4, 12:30 p.m.

A quick note. I will have a live blog tonight from the West Allegheny-Erie Cathedral Prep PIAA football game, plus reports from the other three games involving WPIAL teams.

Smith gets state honor

Lancaster Catholic quarterback Kyle Smith, who broke two state records this season, is the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year.

Smith, a senior, has thrown for a state record 8,174 yards. He also set a state record earlier this season for career touchdown passes. He has not chosen a college yet.

This season, Smith (6 feet 4, 215 pounds) has completed 145 of 22 for 2,387 yards and 46 touchdowns, with just five interceptions. Lancaster Catholic is in the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals tonight against Loyalsock. He also has rushed for 314 yards on 55 carries.

Smtih has a 4.52 grade-point average in the classroom and is ranked No. 5 in his senior class. The Gatorade award takes into consideration academic and athletic achievements.

Palko gets most votes for coach of year

Our question of the week last week in Varsity Xtra was what coach in the WPIAL finals should be coach of the year? A total of 411 votes were cast and West Allegheny's Bob Palko had 39 percent. Woodland Hills' George Novak was next at 15 percent and Aliquippa's Mike Zmijanac had 9 percent.

The Post-Gazette Player of the Year and Coach of the Year will be announced Dec. 25.